Type-writing machine.



B. P. FORTIN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, I915- 1,175,94;5. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

v 2 $HEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR:

$ 9M WXM;

ATTORNEY.

B. P. FORTIN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I, 1915.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IN VENTUR WITNESSES,

ATT RNEY,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN P. FORTIN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T'O UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING- MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN P. FORTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates principally to typewriting machines for writing on a number of superposed webs or continuous sheets, and in which sheets of carbon or other manifoldingmaterial are interleaved with the webs for making duplicate copies.

The present invention comprises certain improvements on the invention shown in Patent No. 1,132,055, and also shows certain features shown in co-pending application 31,805, filed June 3, 1915. As set forth in said patent, the webs may be fed forward to the platen over a support or carrier at the rear of the main paper carriage. The carbon sheets which are interleaved with the continuous webs may be attached to a holder or shifting frame mounted on said carrier to move toward and from the platen, and thus permit the carbon sheets to be fed forward over the printing line with the work-sheets or webs, and'then permit the carbon sheets to be shifted back to a new position relative to the webs.

A feature of the present invention relates to adjustable means to determine the stoping position of the carbon-sheet-holder when shifted to bring the carbon sheets opposite a fresh portion of the webs. The stopping position may thereby be adjusted to accommodate carbon sheets of various lengths, and also to permit small adjustments in the starting position of the carrier for the following purpose. When the carbon-sheet-holder is stopped at the same position each time it is returned for writing on a new section of the webs, the wear on the carbon sheets is confined to narrow strips or zones which come within the strlking range. of the types. This is due to the rotation of the platen through equal angles at each line-space operation, whereby the carbon sheets after each return to starting position, are advanced through the same line-space distances. The wear on sald sheets thus occurs along comparatively narrow strips alternating with unused strips.

To enable substantially the entire surface Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted M 21 191 Application filed July 1, I

1915. Serial No. 37,437.

of the transfer sheets to be utilized, the present invention provides means for readily shifting the stopping position of the carbon-sheet-holder through a distance equal to only a fraction of the distance between consecutive lines of printing, whereby the wear on the carbon sheet or sheets may be distributed. In other words, the carbons, ,having been repeatedly fed forward from the same starting position until they have become worn along the strips which have thus been repeatedly brought within the printing zone, the stopping position may be shifted-so that the unworn portions of the 'carbon sheets are brought within the printing zone, whereby the entire surface-of the transfer material may be utilized.

In practising the invention,stop devices may be mounted for forward and rearward adjustment along the carrier frame" over which the webs are fed forward to the platen, clamping means beingprovided to hold the stops in any position of adjustment; said stops lying in the path of counter-stops on the carbon-sheet-holder. Inorder to quickly and easily effect small adjustments in the stopping position of the carbon-sheet-holder, interponent stops may be mounted on said stop devices to swing into and out of the path of the counter-stops on the carbon-sheet-holder, and thus vary the stopping position of said holder a fraction of a line-space distance.

A further feature of the invention relates to means for gripping or holding the webs to prevent them from being accidentally pulled rearwardly off the carrier or support over which they are fed to the platen, owing to the weight of portions of the webs leading up to said support, or from any other cause tending to displace the platenis lifted. For this purpose, a gripping device may be provided inthe form of a bail pivoted to the ,supporting frame at the rear end thereof, said bail extending across the webs, so that it may swing into position to bend or clamp the webs. and thus prevent them from slipping. Said bail may be held by a spring or detent in both operative and inoperative positions.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an Unwebs while the ent invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the same, the platen being displaced to release the carbon sheets. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view, showing the web-clamping device in operative position, and also showing one of the stop devices for the carbon- .to upper and lower case positions in the usual carriage 12. The carriage may be driven in letter feed direction by the usual spring motor, not shown, and its letter-feed movement controlled by the usual mechanism. Types 13 may be operated in the usual manner. to swing upwardly and rearwardly to strike against the front face of the platen. Front and rear feed rolls 14 and 15 may be yieldingly held against the platen by springs 16 and cooperate with the platen to, feed work-pieces thereover. The work-pieces, which may be continuous sheets or webs of paper 17, each comprising a continuous series of blank forms, may be fed forward over a carrier, comprising a frame 18 extending rearwardly from the carriage 12, which frame is connected to travel with the carriage in letter-feed direction. The

bearing on the rail when the frame is subjected to a one-sided load or pressure.

The webs 17 extend forwardly over the carrier 18 to a paper. shelf 25, which may. form part of. the platen frame, and are guided downwardly and forwardly 1 over said shelf and between the platen and pres-.

. sure rolls15, 14 and thence upwardly overthe ,front face of the platen past the print,-

' ing line. The usual carbon sheet or sheets 26 (shown in full lines in Fig. 2), or equivalent sheets for making duplicate copies, are

interleaved with the webs. 17. These carbon I sheets are attached to a shifting frame or holder 27, mounted on the carrier 18 to travel forward and from the platen, so that the carbon sheets may be fed forward with the webs, and then brought back to starting position opposite fresh portions of the webs;

holding pins 45 on the frame 38.

Horizontal grooved rolls 28 on the frame 27 run on guide rails 29 and 30, which may tt'orm part of the carrier frame 18. The carbon sheets may be individually mounted on supporting arms 31, each of which is retmovably attached at one end to a stepped (support or bracket 32 on the shifting frame B7. The carbon sheets may be clamped to the arms 31 by means of clips 33 pivoted to said arms to swing into position to perwit the carbon sheets to be placed on the arms.

The platen 10 may be rotated by the usual line-space lever 34, operating through a pawl and a line-space ratchet wheel 35 fixed to a platendriving shaft 36, to which may also be fixed a hand wheel 37 for rotating the platen. The drive shaft 36 is separate from the platen axle to permit the platen'to be shifted or displaced from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 2 position for releasing the webs and carbon sheets and permitting the holder 27 and carbon sheets to be returned to starting position opposite a fresh portion of the webs 17 and also to permit the webs 17 to be drawn forward to position new work-forms or sections of the webs to be written upon. The means for permitting the platen to be thus displaced may be substantially the same as the means disclosed for such purpose in the patent above referred to. The means herein shown comprises a platen-displacing frame 38, journaled on a shaft 39; the latter having bearings in the platen frame 11. A pinion 40 on the shaft 39 runs in mesh with gear wheels 41 and 42 secured respectively to the driving shaft 36 and platen axle. The frame 38 may be swung about the shaft 39 as an axle to lift the platen to the Fig. 2 position. The gear train 41, 40, 42 permitting the platen to be rotated while in either position. The platen-displacing frame 38 may be locked in its normal position by latches 43 and 44, secured to a rock shaft journaled in the platen frame, and arranged to eng figle e latches may be released by a finger-piece 46. The frame 38 may comprise a table 47 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the delivery side of the platen into position to support the webs as they pass beyond the printing line. Said webs may be further supported by a bar 48, continuing upwardly and rearwardly beyond the table 47. A stop gage 49 for the upper ends of the webs is ad ustable along said bar. A rubber stop 'or bufi'er 50 on the carriage limits the forward throw of the platen-displacing frame 38. The work-pieces, as they are advanced upwardly and beyond the printing line, are

deflected rearwardly and guided onto the table 47 by means of a guide plate or deflector 51. A tearing blade 52 may be ro vided, said blade located above the guide 51.

When the typewritten matter on a workform has been completed, the platen may be shifted to the Fig. 2 position, and the forward ends of the webs grasped by the thumb and finger of the operator and drawn forward to the gage 49, and the carbon shifting frame 27 may be moved rearwardly as by means of a handle 53, thus positioning the carbon sheets relatively to the webs for writing a succeeding form or section of the webs. The platen is returned to its normal position, Fig. 1, preparatory to writing on the succeeding form or section of the Webs. The return movement of the carbon-sheetholder to a new position is limited by ad justable stop devices 54, said devices slidably mounted for adjustment forwardly and rearwardly along the rails 29 and 30. Each stop device comprises sections 55 and 56 which may be loosely connected at 57, said sections extending on opposite sides of the rail 29 or 30, and formed with recesses 58 or other suitable means for supporting and guiding them on the rail. The stop device may be clamped to the" rail by a clamping rod 59, extending freely through the section 55 and threaded into the section 56, said rod provided with a handle 60. A slight turn of the handle 60 frees the clamp, permitting it to be adjusted along the rail and then clamped in its new position by moving the handle in the opposite direction. Each of the stop devices comprises astop 61 which lies in the path of a counter-stop 62 on the carbon-sheet-holder 27. The stop devices may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly to accommodate carbon sheets of any desired len th, and are usually so positioned that wi the holder 27 against the stops, and

the platen in its lowered position, the forward ends of the carbon sheets will extend a short distance past the printing line.

In order to facilitate small adjustments in the stopping position of the carbon-sheetholder, and thereb enable practically the entire transfer sur ace of the carbon sheets to be used, the following means is provided.

On each of the stop devices 54 is shiftably mounted an auxiliary stop 63, which forms an interponents, arranged to be swung into and out of the path of the counter-stop 62. when in operative position,said interponent is backed by the stop 61 and thereby shifts the stopping position for the carbon sheet support 27, a distance equal to the thickness of said counter-stop. This distance is preferably only a fraction of a line-space distance, or of the distance between two consecutive lines of writing, such distance determined by the line-space mechanism. It

will thus be seen that when the carbon sheets have been used until the portions thereof, which are brought within the printing zone, have become worn, the interponents 63 may be shifted, and thereby cause fresh portions of the carbon sheets to be brought into use, thus lengthening the life of the carbon sheets. Each auxiliary stop 63 may be carried on a lever 64 connected by a pivot 65 to an arm or extension 66 on the stop device 54. A lug 64 on the lever 64 limits the movement of the lever in both directions.

The stop devices 54 may be adjusted through fractional line-space distances tov adjustment to be accurately efi'ected and with great facility.

The invention further provides means for gripping or holding the webs 17 to prevent them from being pulled off the carrier 18 when forced from the platen and feed rolls. The tendency for the webs to slip oil the frame 18 is due articularly to the weight of the portions of the webs leading upward to said carrier. Such holding means may comprise a bail 67 extending across the rear end of the frame 18 and connected by pivots 68 to standards 69 on said frame. vSaid bail is normally free from the webs which are guided over a transverse supporting bar 70 at the rear end of theframe 18. When the clamping bail 67 is swung downwardly to the Fig. 3 position, the webs 17 are bent or deflected and thus clamped or prevented from sliding off the frame 18. A spring detent 71 holds the clamp 67 in either position. A movement of the clamp 67 about its pivots 68 may be limited in both directions by a stop pin 72. Handles 73 may be provided for manipulating the, bail. The clamping means just described is particularly useful for holding the webs 17, while the carbon sheets are being manipulated, either for removing the worn-out sheets, or placing new ones in position, as the operatives hands are thereby left free forhandling the carbon sheets. Said clamping device, however, may be of use at any time, while the continuous webs are not held by the platen and its feed rolls.

The stop devices 54 may be removed from the machine, in which event, stops 75 on the frame 18, in the path of the counter-stops 62, will limit the rearward movement of the carbon-sheet-holder.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: i

1. In a typewriting machine comprising a .platen and means to feed webs or other for carbon sheets interleaved with said webs, said holder arranged to advance with the webs to permit the carbon sheets to be fed past the writing line with the webs, and movable in the reverse direction to bring the carbon sheets to a new position relative to the webs, a stop to limit the return movement of said holder, and means settable to shift the stopping position of the holder through a fractional portion of the distance between consecutive lines of writing, whereby an increased area of the carbon sheets may be brought within the striking range of the types. 7

2. In a typewriting machine comprising a platen and means to feed webs or other work-pieces past the writing line, the combination of means for supporting and guiding the webs to the platen, a shiftable holder for carbon sheets interleaved with said webs, said holder arranged to advance with the websto permit the carbon sheets to be fed past the writing line with the webs, and movable in the reverse direction to bring the carbon sheets to a new position relative to the webs, a stop to limit the return movement of said holder, and an auxiliary stop forming an interponent shiftable into and out of position between said stop and the holder to shift the stop position of the latter through a fraction of a line-space distance.

3. In a typewriting machine comprising a platen and means to feed webs or other work-pieces past the writing line, the combination of means for supporting and guidingthe webs to the platen, a shiftable holder for carbon sheets interleaved with said webs, said holder arranged to advance with the webs to permit the carbon sheets to be fed past the writing line with the webs, and movable in the reverse direction to bring the carbon sheets to a new position relative to the webs, a stop to limit the return movement of said holder, said stop adjustable to position the holder for carbon sheets of various lengths, and an auxiliary adjusting device cooperating with said stop to vary the stop position a predetermined fixed amount equal to a fraction of a line-space distance.

4. The combination with a platen and means for feeding superposed webs over the platen, of a guiding frame extending rearwardly from the platen on which the webs may be supported and guided as they are advanced to the platen, a frame forming a support for inking sheets interleaved with said webs, said support mounted on the guiding frame to travel forwardly with the webs as the latter are fed over the platen, said support shiftable rearwardly relatively to the webs to bring the inking sheets to a new position relative to the Webs, a stop to limit the rearward movement of said support, said stop shiftably mounted on said guiding frame for adjustment forwardly or rearwardly to position the support to correspond with the length of the inking sheets, and means to clamp said stop in its adjusted position.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and means for feeding work-sheets or Webs thereover, of a frame extending rearwardly from the platen. on which the Webs may be supported and guided as they are fed forwardly to the platen, a shifter for carbon sheets which are interleaved with the webs for making duplicate copies thereon, said frame comprising tracks on which the carbon sheet shifter is mounted totravel forwardlyv with the webs as the latter are fed over the platen, said shifter returnable to starting position for shifting the carbon sheets to a new position relative to the webs, a stop device shiftable forwardly and rearwardly on said frame to adjustably determine the stop position of the said shifter, means to clamp the stop device in its adjusted position, and an interponent movable into and out ofv position between the stop device and said shifater to vary the stop position of said shifter, whereby the area of the carbon sheets which is brought within the striking range of the types is increased.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and means for feeding Work-sheets or webs thereover, of a frame extending rearwardly from the platen on which the webs may be supported and guided as they are fed forwardly to the platen, a shifter for carbon sheets which are interleaved with the webs for making duplicate copies thereon, said frame comprising tracks on which the-carbon sheet shifter is mounted to travel forwardly with the Webs as the latter are fed over the platen, said shifter returnable to starting position for shifting the carbon sheets to a new position relative to the webs, stop devices to limit stop devices mounted on said tracks for forward and rearward adjustment, and comprising clamping means for holding them in any position of adjustment along the tracks, and interponent stops pivoted on said stop devices to swing into and out of the returnfmovement of said shifter, said the path of said shifter for varying the stopping position of the shifter a fraction of a line-space distance.

7. In a typewriting machine comprising a rotary platen and having an introductory web course extending rearwardly from the platen, web-feeding means to cooperate with the platen, a shifter in rear of the platen for a carbon sheet interleaved with the webs, said shifter mounted for forward and rearward movement, the platen being mounted for movement away from said feeding means to release the webs and carbon sheet from the feeding means, and also to free, the carbon sheet from the binding action thereon 0f the webs, and thereby permit the carbon sheet to be shifted rearwardly to position for writin on a fresh portionof the web, a stop to limit said rearward movement of said shifter, and an auxiliary stop shiftable into and out of position to vary the stopping point of the shifter.

8. In a typewriting machine comprising a rotary platen and having an introductory web course extending rearwardly from the platen, web-feeding means to cooperate with the platen, a shifter in rear of the platen for a carbon sheet interleaved with the webs,

said shifter mounted for forward and rearward movement, the platen bein mounted for movement away from sai feeding means to release the webs and carbonsheet from the feeding means, and also to free the carbon sheet from the binding action thereon of the webs, and thereby permit the carbon sheet to be shifted rearwardly to position for writing on a fresh portion of the web, and a holding device toreleasably engage the webs at a point in rear ofv the platen and thereby hold them against being drawn backwardly while they are free from the platen and said feeding means.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and means forfeeding webs or continuous work-sheets thereover, of a supporting frame at the introductory side of the platen ,on which the webs are supported and over which they are fed forwardly to the platen, means for releasing the webs from the platen and said feeding means, and a clamping device pn said frame to grip or hold the webs and prevent them from being drawn rearwardly over said frame while the webs are free from the platen and said feeding means.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with a rotary platen and means for feeding continuous work-sheetsior webs and a carbon sheet thereover, of a. supporting frame extending rearwardly from the platen on which the webs are supported and guided 'as they are fed forwardly to theplaten,'a

carbon sheet shifting device arranged to ad-' v vance'with the carbon sheet and webs as they are fed over the platen, means for releasing thewebs from the platen and said feeding means, and also releasing the carbon sheet from the binding action of the webs to permit the said shifting device to be moved rearwardly and shift the carbon sheet to a new position along the webs. and a web-holding device movable into and out of position to grip or hold the webs at a point in rear of said shifting device, whereby the webs are prevented. from slipping rearwardly over said frame while released from the platen and feeding means."

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen and means for I feeding continuous work-sheets or webs and a carbon sheet thereover, of a supporting frame extending rearwardly from the platen on which the webs are supported and guided as they are fed forwardly to the platen, 'a carbon sheet shifting device arranged to advance with the carbon sheet and webs as theyoare fed over the platen, means for releasing the webs from the platen and said feeding means and also releasing the carbon sheet from the binding action of the webs to permit the said shifting device to be moved rearwardly and shift' the carbon sheet to a new position along the webs, a web-holding device extending across said frame at a point in rear of the carbon sheet v shifting device, said holding device mounted to swing into and out of position to grip or hold the websand prevent them from slipping rearwardly. over said frame, and means to hold said holding device in either of said positions.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with 'a platen and means for feeding webs thereover, of a'frame extending rearwardly from the platen on which the webs are supported and guided-as they are fed to the platen, said frame comprising a transverse bar at the rear end thereof over which the webs are guided, a web-holding bar extending across said frame over said guiding bar and arranged to swing into and out of position to hold the webs, and a spring to position.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and-means for feeding work-pieces thereover, of means forming a gage to-determine the starting position of a carbon sheet, from which position the carbon sheet maybe repeatedly fed over the platen between work-pieces, and adjusting means cooperating with said gage and settable to shift the starting position for the carbon sheet a predetermined fixed frac- ,tional part of a line-space distance. r

15. In a typewriting machine, the com bination with a rotary platen, work-piece feeding means cooperating therewith, and.

line-spacing mechanism for rotating the platen through a predetermined fixed distance at each line-spacing operation, of a gage to determine the starting position of a carbon sheet which is arranged to be fed over the platen with a work-piece, and adjustin'g means for shifting said starting position through a fraction of a line-space distance determined by said line-spacing mechanism, whereby when portions of the carbon sheet which are brought within striking range of the types, have become worn after the carbon sheet is repeatedly fed from one 4 sheet and advance with, the carbon sheet from a starting position as the carbon sheet is fed over the platen with the work-pieces, said shifting device shiftable to return the carbon sheet to starting position, a stop. device determining said starting. position, and means cooperatingwith said stop device to shift the starting position through a fraction ofa line-space distance.

, 17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a laten and means for feeding webs or continuous strips thereover, of a frame over which the webs are guided as they are fed to the platen, and a retarding device movable into and out of position to bend or deflect the webs, and thereby hold them against any tendency to slip over said frame while free from the ing means.

18. Ina typewriting machine, the combination, with a platen, and means for guiding superposed work webs to'r cooperate with platen and feedsaid platen; of a holder for carbon sheets interleaved with said work webs; means for advancing the webs relatively to the carbon- 4-) holder and platen, to permit the carbon sheets to cooperate with successive sections of the web; and means, for mechanically varying the position of the carbon-holder relatively to the printing line, to bring an 46 increased area of the carbon sheets within striking rangeof the types.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a revoluble platen; of a holder for carbonsheets to lie in interleaved relati'on 60 with superposed work webs fed around the platen, said carbon-holder being retractable independently of thework webs; and means to cooperate with the carbon-holder at such independent movement thereof, for varying 55 the position of the carbon-holder relatively to theprinting line, to bring an increased area of the carbon sheets within striking range of the types.

20. In a typewriting machine, the com- 50 bination, with a revoluble platen; of a holder 7 for carbon sheets to lie in interleaved relation with superposed work webs fed around the platen, said carbon-holder being retractable independently of the work webs; and a manually-settable position-regulating device to control the position of. the' carbon-holder relatively to the printing line, to enable an increased area of the carbon sheets to be brought within striking range of the types.

.. BENJAMIN P.'FORTIN. Witnesses:

. FRANK A. Coon,

L. D. BROUGH'ION. 

